Emmerdale star Amanda Donohoe quits the ITV1 soap

Amanda Donohoe is quitting her role as murderous mother of three Natasha Wylde in Emmerdale.

The actress will film her final scenes later this year after two years in the rural ITV1 soap.

She said: “My initial contract with Emmerdale was only for a year so the fact I’ve stayed for two years is testimony to the show’s fantastic cast, crew and producers – Gavin Blyth and Steve November.”

A spokeswoman for Emmerdale added: “We can confirm Amanda Donohoe will be leaving Emmerdale at the end of her current contract. Natasha’s story has been central to the drama of the show and her departure gives us scope for an explosive climax as the story takes its final twists and turns.”

Natasha shot dead her bigamist husband Mark and buried his body, but the corpse will be unearthed this week.

Last month it emerged that Alice Coulthard was leaving the role of Natasha’s daughter Maisie Wylde.